The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-06


Niagara Falls. He said it was source of re-
greet and EN- oarrassmeDt that the month of Sep
tenn Der had been selected for the congress. and
the committee felt it duty to explain the
sence of that boundless hospitality for which
Washington widely known. 1t was. he
said, due TO the absence from the city of SO
many of those who were at other wont
TO open their doors TO visitors.
President Davis next introduced Secretary of
State Bavard, who welcomed the Congress
Washington in an eloquent address. He said.
In pa. pat; u.,,ou nj. .on,... ;. .u.,,,., >,
the sanitation of the nations. In your profess
3ion we recognize the noblest school of human
usefulness, and In the progress OF the develop
ment of the laws of cure, the mitigation of suf-
fering. the proongatiou of human existence,
aud efforts to discover the true principles and
conditions by which life be made worth lv-
Ing we have learned to appreciate our debt to
those whose highest reward is the still small
voice OF gratitude anc consciousness of bene-
faction to the human race. Gentlemen, l conf
IDENTIFY promise Your convention a worthy audi
ence-not alone the members of your profess
sion here assembled, nor the limited number
whom this building contain, but that
vaster audience to whom, upon the wings
OF electrical force, your message viii be
daily borne far and wide to the listening ears
of more than sixty millions of American citizens.
Sure I'm that your message will be worthy,
and equally that your thoughtful dehverancss
will be welcomed by continent. The closer
relations of mankind which modern invention
has induced, has necessarily been accompanied
by an increased dissemination of disease. and
Ihe need obvious of frequent international
conference, that. in the grand sweep of scientific
observ atoms, new discoveries the healing
art may be promptly attested and applied in
counteraction. Forgive me, If. of the
great army of patients, humbly petition the
profession that in your delibera-
lions nature may be allowed "a hear
ing when remedies are proposed; that her
Wis medacatrix may not DO omitted In comput-
ing the forces of cure, and that science may be
restricted as often possible to sounding the
alarm for nature to hasten, as she surely will if
permitted, TO the defense of the point assaied.
My duty is very simple, and fear l have al
ready overstepped it's limit for there was. in
deed, little more for me to say than to repeat
the words of an ancient dame. whose cottage
was close by the battlefield of Waterloo, and,
being some what deaf. and hearing the sound of
the artillery when the famous pounding" was
hardest thought she heard some one knocking
at her door, and simply said: Come in This
may seem unscientifc illustration OF auscul-
tation and percussion, but you need not make
half the noise of Wellington Bonaparte. and
can assure You that the American people will
hear you and heartily say to you as 1 do for
them. Come in.
The welcome was acknowledged and respond
ed to briefly by DR.. William Harris Lloyd, In
spector-genoral r. N. in behalf of Great
Britain; DR.. Leon Laforte, of Paris, behalf
Of France; Pros T. G. Unna, of Hamburg,
the part of Germany; Senator NJ. Semmola, of
Naples, for Italy; and Sir Charles Key Der, OF
St Petersburg, representing the government of
Russia DR.. Unna spoke in German and Drs.
Semmola and Laforte in French.
presidents to the chair, proceeded to deliver his
opening address. He said:
Gentlemen: 1t is my sad duty first to re-
mind you that death has removed from among
rs one TO whom, more than any other. we are
indebted for the privilege of having the
ninth International Medical Congress in
valuable contributions TO medical lit
erature and eminence as teacher caused
him not only to be universally regarded the most
Influential teacher in all the preparatory work,
but also the unanimously designated to pre-
side your deliberations this occasion
That one was the late Prof. Austin Flint, of Now
York, who was taken suddenly from his earthly
1abors early in 1856. before the work of prepara-
ton for this congress had been half completed.
The true nobility of his private and professional
character, his eminent ability as teacher, and,
above all, the NUM- Der and value of his contribu-
lions TO the literature and art of medicine, had
caused him to be known and esteemed by the
profession in all countries. And you all
member. while the shock of his death was fresh
upon us, our loss seemed well nigh lrrsparable.
But though he has taken his departure ripe in
years and full of honors vet the Influence of his
cal science remain and will continue to exert
their bene6ceht influence through all the genera
tons to come"
He thanked the congress for the honor be-
slowed upon him, an honor that he appreciated
rs second to no other of temporal nature, be-
cause it has been bestowed neither by conquest
nor by hereditary influence. nor yet by partisan
strife but by the free expression of his hearers
choice. Addressing himself now more directly
TO InOso VINO naQ lett homes and loved
other lands and encounter the fatigue and
danger of travelling by and by land, in the
name of the medical profession Of this country
he welcomed them not Only to this beautiful
city and the hospitality OF it's citizens as had
been so admirably done already by the honor
able represe NATIVE of the government who had
Just taken his seat, but he cordially welcomed
them to the open arms and warm hearts of the
medical men of this whole country, in whose
name they were invited here three
years since, and whose representatives
have oraA he
the West the North the South, well as from
the rugged mountains and fer tile valleys of the
center, to make good the promise implied by
that invitation. He took great pleasure in greet
ing them. one and all. as leading representatives
OF profession whose paramount object is the
lessenlng of human suffering. Nay, more,
with profound reverence he greeted them as a
noble brotherhood, who. in the practical pursuit
of that one grand object. recognized no distinc-
ton OF country, race or creed. but bound up the
wounds and assuaged the pains of the rich and
the poor. ruler and ruled christian and pagan,
friend and foe alike. With a common object so
benefcent in its nature, and opportunities for it's
practical pursuit SO universal it was but natural
that they should be found searching for the
most effectual means for the accomplishment of
Of the one object of lessening human suffering
In every Held OF nature and in every department.
of human knowledge. The time has heen when
medical studies embraced little else sIau the
doemas of a few leading minds. eacp
OF which became, for the time. the founder of a
so-called school of medicine with his disciples
more or less numerous. But with the develop
ment of general and analy tical chemistry of the
several departments of natural science, of
more practical knowledge of physics and the
adoption OF inductive processes Of reasoning the
age OF theoretical dogmas and of medical sects
bindly following some more plausible leader,
passed away, leaving but infinitely small
shadow yet visible on the medical horizon. so
true was this that in casting our mental vision
to-day over the broad domain of medicine we
saw it's votaries engaged. some searching for
new facts and new materials some studying
new applications and better uses of facts and ma
ierials already known; and some of them All in
The dead house with scapel and microscope, not
Dnly studying the position and relations of every
part, from the obvious bones and muscles to the
smallest leucocyte in health, but also every de-
walton caused by morbid action or disease.
Some were searching the fields. the forests, the
earth ard the air both for more knowledge con-
,erning the causes of disease. and for additional
remedial agents; some were in laboratories with |
srucible, test-glass and microscope, analyziug
avery morbid product and every remedial agent |
separating the active principles from the crude
materials, ana demonstrating their action on |
living animals while far the